Our liver, the master metabolizer, filters the entire blood volume every three minutes. How about that? All our organs have their special role, but it’s the liver that processes and neutralizes all the chemicals our body is exposed to, from our food, environment, or personal care products. In healthy diets or detox diets, when we consume appreciable quantities of vegetables and fruits, our cells receive high concentrations of potassium which flushes out excess water and toxins, creating an alkaline environment.
The toxins are then sent via the bloodstream to the liver, which neutralizes them for excretion either by the kidneys or through the colon, via the bile. During detox diets, lots of toxins are flushed out from our cells, so the liver is exposed to a greater pressure and needs to be stimulated to cope with the higher bile production. A healthy production of bile is essential for eliminating the toxins, so we should help the liver with key nutrients, such as antioxidants (for instance the detoxifying betalains in this Beet and Ginger Detox Elixir) and fiber.
Soluble Fiber Sources: oatmeal, lentils, apples, oranges, pears, nuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, beans, celery, carrots.
Insoluble Fiber Sources: seeds, nuts, brown rice, zucchini, celery, broccoli, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, dark leafy vegetables, raisins.
My three detox soups are not only packed with potassium for creating an alkaline environment and to help flush out the toxins from our cells, but also with fiber, soluble for stimulating the bile secretion and insoluble for promoting bowel movement and elimination of toxins. The soups come with gorgeous colors, taste delicious, and I actually added them to my comfort food recipe section because they make me feel amazing.